Parents need to know that The Manchurian Candidate is a thriller with intense and graphic violence, including many murders (gunshot, strangling, drowning) and injuries. Characters drink, smoke, and use drugs. There's some very strong language. A strength of the movie is its portrayal of strong, intelligent, loyal, and capable citizens.

Families can talk about how this movie compares to the original and how each film is a reflection of its times. Marco says, "I thought I knew who the enemy was." Who was the enemy? What does the choice of bad guy tell us? Is an "emotionally compromised past" a "terrible burden" from which someone must be freed?

How does this remake compare to the original? How are the issues of the 1950s different than the issues of the 2000s? How are they similar?

The good stuff

Messages: Loyalty, patriotism, service, bravery, and honesty are all positive themes in the movie that is critical of political machinations.

Role models: The main character is driven to uncover the truth out of a sense of loyalty and patriotism.

Movies.com, the ultimate source for everything movies, is your destination for new movie trailers, reviews, photos, times, tickets + more! Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at Movies.com.